Letter to the editor: Rights atrophy like muscles without exercise

Monday

Jul 7, 2014 at 9:06 AM

To the editor:Our forefathers created a system of government unlike any the world had seen at the time. It was based not on oppressive monarchs and kings.It was and continues to be based on freedom and responsibility of each and every citizen.This freedom and responsibility is being threatened almost daily by a form of government today that has changed from the time of our forefathers.The Bible, in Mark chapter two, states: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."Now substitute the word government for Sabbath and you will understand perhaps where our forefathers were heading when they created our form of government. Government is to serve its citizenry, not the other way around.Our government in recent years has been good at mandating various programs that threaten to take away choices we have taken for granted. We now have such programs as the HHS mandate, which essentially says we are to get and accept only specific services in our health care, whether we oppose those things or not based on our personal views.Holding such a position on this or any issue that is contrary to what our government or the current culture define as standard can result in criticisms or worse, investigations by the media, the courts, or any number of an alphabet soup list of bureaucracies.When we as a society do not stand up and realize that our freedoms and responsibilities as citizens are being taken away, then we will lose them. If muscles are not used on a person, they become atrophied and wither away. If we do not stand up and say no more to our government through the power of the ballot box and vote, then our freedoms will also atrophy and wither away.In Kansas, we citizens have an opportunity Aug. 5 to begin to change from an essentially out-of-control government. You as a citizen have the right to vote.Use it.Our forefathers on July 4, 1776, did not risk all they had to have a silent majority of the citizenry sit back and let someone else do the heavy lifting. Vote on Aug. 5 in the primary election. Vote again Nov. 4 in the general election.Your vote will ensure this and future July 4ths will continue to be celebrations of freedom and individual liberties for everyone.

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